Recently, a class-action lawsuit was filed with the federal court in San Francisco alleging that Purina’s Beneful food line is endangering animals, causing them to become extremely ill, and in some cases resulting in death. Frank Lucido, a California resident, claims that his three dogs became ill with similar symptoms after a month of eating Beneful. Lucido’s English Bulldog died, and his other two dogs remain ill.

The class action suit comes after Purina received more than 3,000 complaints online, all claiming that animals became sick after eating the food. The filing contests that animals all showed “consistent symptoms, including stomach and related internal bleeding, liver malfunction or failure, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, seizures, bloat, and kidney failure.” All stem, according to the complaint, from Purina’s use of propylene glycol, a substance used in automobile antifreeze, and its possible contamination from mycotoxins. While propylene glycol has been banned in cat food due to its links to Heinz blood anemia, it is still approved for use in dog food. The mycotoxins, a type of toxin produced by fungus that can be found in grains, are also extremely toxic to animals and humans. Purina claims it screens for mycotoxins, all three of Lucido’s dogs suffered from symptoms that are consistent with mycotoxin poisoning.

Purina has adamantly denied any health risk to animals, and plans to “vigorously defend ourselves and our brand.”

For more information on the lawsuit and how to be a part of it if you feel your animal has become ill from Beneful, you can contact the law firm of Ram, Olson, Cereghino & Kopczynski.

Adam Greene may reside in West Michigan, but the majority of his time is spent providing a comfortable lap for his many animals. When not covered in cats, he is probably writing and drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee.